Pepe Serna
Durable Mexican-American actor Pepe Serna has appeared in more than 100 feature films and 300 television shows, but is most recognized for his gritty support performances in a variety of motion pictures, including Scarface (1983) as Al Pacino's ill-fated cocaine partner, as well as the western Silverado (1985) with Kevin Costner, the crime yarn The Rookie (1990) starring Clint Eastwood and Charlie Sheen, and the drama American Me (1992) starring Edward James Olmos. In a career surpassing five decades, Pepe's characters have played on both sides of the law -- from drug peddlers to sheriffs.
He was born (and raised) in Corpus Christi, Texas on July 23, 1944, the son of a naval base interpreter for Latin American pilots and a hairdresser. His desires to become an actor happened early in life, moving to Hollywood in 1969 to finally pursue his dreams. He didn't have to wait long to find steady Latino work on film and TV.
Making an inauspicious debut in the exploitation film The Student Nurses (1970), Pepe found more "A" quality work after being discovered by producer Hal B. Wallis for the coming-of-age film Tim Belcher starring Richard Thomas and Catherine Burns and the western Shoot Out (1971) starring Gregory Peck. Specializing in urban, streetwise roles, he went on to mix a number of popular films (The New Centurions (1972), The Day of the Locust (1975), Car Wash (1976), A Force of One (1979), Walk Proud (1979), Honeysuckle Rose (1980), Inside Moves (1980), Deal of the Century (1983), Red Dawn (1984), Caddyshack II (1988)) with a slew of popular TV crime dramas such as "Mannix," "Police Story," "Adam-12," "The Rookies," "The Rockford Files," "Baretta," "Kojak," "CHiPs," "Barney Miller," "Scarecrow & Mrs. King," "T.J. Hooker," "Simon & Simon," "Hill Street Blues," "Miami Vice," "Cagney & Lacey" and "Diagnosis Murder."
Long married to wife Diane, Pepe is a noted keynote teacher and motivational speaker who tours colleges and universities. His strong sideline as a painter has been met with critical success, having been commissioned quite frequently. His vibrant paintings and one-man stage shows reflect a serious return to his Mexican roots and was the subject of the 2015 short documentary "Life Is Art."
Known for
Criminal Minds
Ruben Garcia
Diagnosis: Murder
Capt. Collins
The Rockford Files
Ray Ochoa
Cannon
Knight Rider
Lupo
The A-Team
Tómas Jefferson
Lou Grant
The Rookies
Mannix
T. J. Hooker
Frank Fierro
Quantum Leap
Manuel Vega
Sliders
Roberto
Miami Vice
Oswaldo Guzman
Miami Vice
Zabado
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
Barney Miller
Julio Rodriguez
Kojak
Enorio Patias
Kojak
Rudy Diaz
Simon & Simon
Hunter
Roberto Sanchez
Police Story
Baretta
Hill Street Blues
Adam-12
Roger
The Zeta Project
The Greatest American Hero
CHiPs
Bronk
Hell Town
Enrique
Justice League
Shifflet (voice)
The PJs
Sanchez (voice)
Jesse
Pappa Vasquez
Scarface
Angel
The Fortunate Pilgrim
John Colucci
Dimension 404
Wally Nash
Cagney & Lacey
With Love
Luis Delgado
A Year in the Life
Carlos
Downsizing
Señor Cárdenas
The Paper Chase
Red Dawn
Aardvark's Father
Rafferty
Flamin' Hot
Abuelito
Kingpin
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
Reno Nevada
Dudley
Santana
The Black Dahlia
Tomas Dos Santos
Kung Fu
Los Vidrios
The Rookie
Lt. Ray Garcia
Second Chances
Salvador Lopez
American Me
Mundo
Shoot Out
Pepe
The Margarita Man
Jose Martinez
The Jerk
Punk #1
DEA
Cake
Nuncio
Car Wash
Chuco
Walk Proud
Cesar
Hotel Malibu
Man from Reno
Paul Del Moral
The Student Nurses
Luis
Lowriders
Pepe
Postcards from the Edge
Raoul
Group Marriage
Ramon
Fandango
Gas Station Mechanic
Picking Up the Pieces
Florencio
The Day of the Locust
Miguel
Conagher
Caddyshack II
Carlos
Swashbuckler
Street Entertainer
Deal of the Century
Vardis
The Brave
Alessandro
Road to Juarez
Fortunato
Bread and Roses
Restaurateur
Kill or Be Killed
Rudy Goebel
A Force of One
Orlando
Miracle on 34th Street
Y Leader
The New Centurions
Young Mexican Man
Vice Squad
Pete Mendez
Latin Dragon
Hector Sanchez
Only You
Dock Official
Ana Maria in Novela Land
Father Miguel
The Deadly Tower
Mano
Inside Moves
Herrada
Out of Bounds
Murano
The Killer Inside Me
Johnny Lopez
Honeysuckle Rose
Rooster
The Gun
Natcho
Restored Me
Manny
The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez
Romaldo Cortez
A Million to Juan
Mr. Ortiz
The Planters
Jesús
Green Ghost and the Masters of the Stone
Rancher
Joe Dancer II: The Monkey Mission
Vito
Daybreak
Herman Ortiz
City in Fear
Raymond Zavala
The Forgotten
Sgt. Pepe Gutierrez
Deadly Swarm
Commandante Alvarez
Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo
Migrant Worker (uncredited)
Best Kept Secrets
Jim Ramos
Bad Jim
Virgilio Segura
The Three Kings
Alex Sweetwood
White on Rice
Professor Berk
Moe
Along for the Ride
Dr. Sanchez
From the Dead
Rodrigo
Human Error
Jonny's Golden Quest
Agent Menendez
Land of Milk & Honey
Danny
300 Miles for Stephanie
Bobby Hernandez
Exposed
Raoul
Luminarias
The Princess and the Barrio Boy
Bum
Streets of Justice
Det. Almos
The Last Angry Man
Charlie Parelli
Say a Little Prayer
Seguin
Manuel Flores
Monday Nights at Seven
Paul
Break of Dawn
Hector
The Streets of L.A.
Sgt. Castro
White Water Rebels
Harry Cutter
In the Flesh
Harlan Ramirez
The Desperate Miles
Ruiz
Heartbreaker
Loco
Big Dreams Little Tokyo
Mr. Gonzalez
Roots of Blood
Juan
Flavor of Life
Superpowerless
Dr. George Holst
Under Water: Dive Deep
Lil' Big Me